Research News

Canada’s Largest-Ever Health Data Portal Opens to Global Researchers

June, 2015 |

On June 29, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer launched a landmark research portal that includes health and biological data from 300,000 Canadians — nearly one in every 50 individuals between the ages of 35 and 69.

“I would like to congratulate the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project for creating one of the largest, most expansive cancer research databases in the world,” says Health Minister Rona Ambrose. “This landmark study offers a wealth of information that will be opened to researchers, which could lead to new strategies in the fight against cancer and related chronic diseases.”

Dr. Heather Bryant, vice-president of Cancer Control at the Partnership, says that the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project (CPTP) will provide researchers with access to health and lifestyle surveys, health outcome data and even biological samples. “This lets them approach cancer and chronic disease from new angles, helping them dig deeper than ever before into its potential causes,” Bryant says.

“Given the complexity of cancer, we must study huge numbers of willing participants over a long period of time to uncover meaningful information about its risk factors,” says Dr. Paula Robson, Scientific Director at the Alberta Tomorrow Project, which is one of five provincial partners involved in CPTP. “Thankfully, hundreds of thousands of Canadians have come forward to share their health information in hopes of unlocking the mystery of why some people develop cancer or other chronic diseases.”

The data can be used for long-term population health studies on people’s health, lifestyle or health risks. CPTP will accelerate research, improve the competitiveness of Canadian research and provide opportunities for made-in-Canada discoveries.